Bamboo's Various Uses

By Anikka Wattem

I recently fell in love with bamboo fabric when we needed new sheets. I didn't want anything scratchy. I walked up and down the aisles of my local Target store feeling the fabric samples from the lowest thread count on up. As soon as I touched the Bamboo sheets I was sold.

Although the thread count was on the low side, the sheets were inexplicably soft. Although the price was a little higher then I had planned on spending I threw them in the cart and brought them home. Once again sustainability was an afterthought in my purchasing process I was very happy to find that bamboo is renewable. It's actually a grass and it's roots generate new shoots when they are cut off. It grows very rapidly and is therefore naturally is sustainable. This is great news.

So what else can be made of bamboo? I'm particularly excited to try bamboo clothes! If they are anything like my sheets they'll be the softest thing that I have ever worn. I was also excited to know that bamboo can be used to make just about anything wood can. It can replace particle board that releases toxic fumes. Just looking around my house I realized how many chemicals I'm probably breathing off all the particle board products. You can even build a house out bamboo (using different kinds of insulation depending on your climate) or just go for bamboo floors. It seems the possibilities for bamboo are almost endless. Plug bamboo into your favorite search engine and you'll be amazed at the quantity and variety of bamboo products available.

Tip: Remember to do some research into the company's environmental practices (or lack thereof) before you make a purchase!